What Are Some Inspirational Quotes About Life?

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Some inspirational quotes about life include, "Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch...I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it onto future generations" by George Bernard Shaw, "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage" by Anais Nin and "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life" by Steve Jobs. All three quotes emphasize one's agency and opportunity in life.

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The quote by George Bernard Shaw, a Nobel Prize-winning Irish playwright, is derived from a 1907 speech given at Brighton. In the quote, Shaw sees life as a tremendous opportunity rather than a mere brief incident, saying life is not a "brief candle" but a "splendid torch." He declares his intention to make the most of life's opportunities and use his life to better the community for later generations.

Anais Nin was a European writer famed for her diaries spanning over 60 years. The quote by Nin is from the third volume of her diary. In the quote, Nin notes that an individual's experience of life is subject to her own bravery in making decisions. Nin suggests it is possible to achieve more agency in life, being able to determine her own life through will and courage.

The quote by Steve Jobs, founder of the successful technology company Apple, is taken from a 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University. Throughout the speech, Jobs reflects on his life's journey, concluding with lessons learned along the way. In the quote, he encourages people to follow their own instincts and passions rather than to submit to others at the expense of their own dreams. He notes with a sense of urgency that humans have limited lifetimes and implies that people should make the most of life's opportunities.